Chatterbox: Pudding's Place

A Ski Lodge

You flop down onto your bed, exhausted from another long day of school. Is it really necessary for your teacher to assign you to write three essays this week? You have other stuff going on. Life. And you can’t afford to fail this class. Your academic success is hanging on a precipice, and one nudge will send it falling into an abyss so deep that it will never be found if it is lost.

The computer is open in front of you, the white, electronic pages of your word processor beckoning to you. You sit down at your desk.

And then you stand up again and go to the kitchen for a glass of water. You can’t work with a dry mouth. Then, once the water is drained, you grab an apple. It’s slightly withered, but you slice it and slowly eat. You glance over toward the counter where a digital clock squats, its red numbers blinking threateningly. 9:48. If your parents knew you were up this late on a school night, eating old apples, with three essays to write, they would go completely out of their minds.

But your parents aren’t here to boss you around at the moment, so who cares what they’d say? It’s not as if the essays were due tomorrow. At least, not all of them are. Just one.

The apple is gone, and you can no longer think of any stalling techniques. You are fighting a losing battle against yourself. It’s past ten at night, you have school tomorrow, and your teacher is expecting a nice, long essay from everyone’s favorite student.

You walk slowly back to your room and sit down at your desk. You type a few words, yawn, type a few more, open up a web browser, surf Wikipedia for a couple of minutes, yawn again. So far you have only twelve words.

You open up the CB. It’s late, you know, and no one will have posted a thing since you checked last, but maybe you can read an old ski lodge or two.

You click on Pudding’s Place, intending to look for Lake Lelilo or something, when a new thread catches your eye. A Ski Lodge, it says, in those red letters you know so well. You click on the link, and start to read.

“You flop down onto your bed, exhausted from another long day of school. Is it really necessary for your teacher to assign you to write three essays this week?”

What?

You keep reading, watching your own movements of that night laid before you in second person, right up to this very moment.

Good.

I’ve got your attention now.

My dear CBer,

You are having trouble at school. You have unwritten essays, and you don’t know what to write.

That’s okay.

We are offering you the chance of a lifetime, the chance to fix everything. Come to Camp Juniper, where you have the chance to be freed from the bonds of school. You will no longer have to study late into the night in order to pass a test. You will no longer have to struggle for hours on end in order to write a good essay. In short, we are giving you a Get Out of Jail Free card. And, if you choose not to accept this card, you will be given a free college scholarship.

There will be competitions throughout the days of camp. Each camper will have the chance to earn juniper branches. Anyone who is able to weave their branches into a wreath by the end of the camp session will earn this freedom.

Sounds nice?

We thought so.

All you have to do is fill out this form. And be prepared to die.

Name:

CBer, AE, CAPTCHA, or CAPTCHAE? (Note: CAPTCHAs, and CAPTCHAEs are not allowed):

Age:

Gender:

Companion(s) (up to 2 companions per person) (please fill out a sheet for them as well) (AEs only):

Appearance:

Personality in five words. (Any more or less and you will no longer have the privilege to eat popcorn):

Skills:

Quirks:

Brains or Brawn?:

Envy or Empathy?: 

Reverie or Realism?:

Luggage, in order from most to least important:

Choose a number:

Choose a color:

Other:

We are excited to see you. And yes, we WILL see you.

Your obedient servants,

L. Reine & B. Ambrose

P.S. The popcorn is free, as well.

P.P.S. Please be prepared to participate fully, whatever this may mean.

P.P.P.S. Obviously, this is a ski lodge.

You read over the letter again. Is it worth it? You could die. . . but people always come back to life after a ski lodge. You could be a murderer. . . but who cares about that? It’s just a story. And how hard could it be to weave a few branches into a wreath?

Yes, you decide.

It’s definitely worth it.

And so, you fill out the form.

And then, you press submit.

submitted by Liberté and Basil, Camp Juniper
(October 31, 2020 - 8:09 pm)

Name: Kitty Cat

 

CBer, AE, CAPTCHA, or CAPTCHAE? (Note: CAPTCHAs, and CAPTCHAEs are not allowed): CBer

 

Age: Teen, 13

 

Gender: Female

 

Companion(s) (up to 2 companions per person) (please fill out a sheet for them as well) (AEs only): No

 

Appearance: Long red hair in a ponytail or cut e pigtails, or just down, leather jacket and graphic tees, black Jean shorts with fishnet leggings underneath. Long black lace up boots. White skin, hoop earrings and choker necklace too!

 

Personality in five words. (Any more or less and you will no longer have the privilege to eat popcorn): Crazy, also I am Weird

 

Skills: I can do origami really well, and Also draw too, I am also pretty good at riding a skateboard

 

Quirks: I wrote short stories when I'm mad. I don't know if that is a quirk but whatever.

 

Brains or Brawn?: Brains

 

Envy or Empathy?:  envy

 

Reverie or Realism?: Realism

 

Luggage, in order from most to least important: My clothes, phone, probably my sketchbooks and ten pencils just in case! Also toiletries.

 

Choose a number: 22

 

Choose a color: Blue

 

Other: No!

submitted by Kitty Cat, age Teen, Gotham City
(November 2, 2020 - 7:05 pm)

Thank you for submitting your sheet, Kitty Cat. We're excited to meet you at Camp Juniper! Do you have anything else to add to your personality?

submitted by Liberté and Basil, Camp Juniper
(November 2, 2020 - 8:11 pm)

Will the popcorn still be free? :3 Well, I'm kind of funny and super witty, I'm kind and nice. Thanks! Also I'm vegetarian.

submitted by Kitty Cat, age teen, Gotham City
(November 3, 2020 - 10:21 am)

Thank you for this information that is important for your life and well-being. 

submitted by Liberté and Basil, Camp Juniper
(November 3, 2020 - 11:02 am)

Name: Inari

 

CBer, AE, CAPTCHA, or CAPTCHAE? (Note: CAPTCHAs, and CAPTCHAEs are not allowed): no one

 

Age: 11

 

Gender: male

 

Companion(s) (up to 2 companions per person) (please fill out a sheet for them as well) (AEs only): no one

 

Appearance: meduim height, either a white or black shirt, usually jeans or shorts a jacket that i keep with me usually, and sunglasses

 

Personality in five words. (Any more or less and you will no longer have the privilege to eat popcorn):  usually shy, happy, optimistic, introvert

 

Skills: is a computer wiz and ok at math and very good at memorizing things

 

Quirks: Somehow able to always have acces to the internet and surprisingly hyperaware of everything around him

 

Brains or Brawn?: brains

 

Envy or Empathy?: empathy

 

Reverie or Realism?: Realism

 

Luggage, in order from most to least important: computer, phone, toiletries, food and water, extra rations, flashlight/lamp, paper and pencil, swiss army knife, at least 3 books,  first aid kit.

 

Choose a number: 0

 

Choose a color: black

 

Other: I am a bit weird and has trypophobia, severe at that case

submitted by Inari, age ???, ???
(November 2, 2020 - 7:29 pm)

Thank you for submitting your sheet, Inari. We're excited to meet you at Camp Juniper!

submitted by Liberté and Basil, Camp Juniper
(November 2, 2020 - 8:13 pm)

I can never resist a ski lodge! Especially not one with eerily accurate second-person description and spookily specific timing...

Name: Summer

CBer

Age: Oh, teenager, I guess.

Gender: Female

Companion(s): All right, Spring, Winter? Any interest?

Well, I really would love to, but you know, I'm just a bit occupied...

No. I'm busy.

All right then. Just me. 

Appearance: Short brown hair with teal streaks, green eyes, bright blue t-shirt and jeans. To be concise.

Personality in five words. (Any more or less and you will no longer have the privilege to eat popcorn): Cheerful, nerdy, kind of quiet.

Skills: Um, being creative? Don't know if that counts as a skill. I can play the ukulele? Dunno if that counts either. Oh well.

Quirks: Friendly banter, talking to myself on occasion.

Brains or Brawn?: Brains!!

Envy or Empathy?: Empathy!!

Reverie or Realism?: Reverie!!

Luggage, in order from most to least important: Pencils, notebooks, regular books, cell phone, Swiss Army knife.

Choose a number: i

Choose a color: Olive green.

Other: And now, as you predicted, I will press submit...

submitted by Summer, age tau, Nowhere at all
(November 2, 2020 - 9:01 pm)

Thank you for submitting your sheet, Summer. We're excited to meet you at Camp Juniper!

submitted by Liberté and Basil, Camp Juniper
(November 2, 2020 - 10:05 pm)

Hello friends and companions! 

We would like to let you know there is one spot left for CBers. You can continue to submit AE forms and edit/revise your own forms.  

~Liberté and Basil  

submitted by One CBer Spot Left!
(November 3, 2020 - 11:37 am)

DIBS! 

Name: Freak

 

CBer, AE, CAPTCHA, or CAPTCHAE? (Note: CAPTCHAs, and CAPTCHAEs are not allowed): CBer

 

Age: Same as whatever Sammy's is.

 

Gender: Male

 

Companion(s) (up to 2 companions per person) (please fill out a sheet for them as well) (AEs only): Nope. Live alone, die alone.

 

Appearance: Due to a real accident when I was eight, I wear a prosthetic white mask to cover my hamburger meat lookin' face. I'm a brunette but I died my hair black to be eDgY. Blue eyes, fair skin. Prolly wearing hoodies and blue jeans with sneakers.

 

Personality in five words. (Any more or less and you will no longer have the privilege to eat popcorn): Comedic, easygoing, meme-y, nice, eDgY.

 

Skills: Uh.. People in stores think I'm going to rob them when I walk in...? Also, fencing.

 

Quirks: I... I... *whispering* I'm a jaywalker... *sob*

 

Brains or Brawn?: Brawn

 

Envy or Empathy?: Envy

 

Reverie or Realism?: Realism

 

Luggage, in order from most to least important:

Too cheap to buy luggage, most likely going to beg Sammy and her AEs for stuff. 

 

Choose a number: 27

 

Choose a color: Yellow

 

Other: I'm from Brooklyn, rival and friend to Sammy Everlast, afraid of her AE Ivan the Emu.

submitted by Freak
(November 4, 2020 - 8:09 am)

Thank you for submitting your sheet, Freak. We're excited to meet you at Camp Juniper!

submitted by Liberté and Basil, Camp Juniper
(November 4, 2020 - 11:03 am)

Hello noble companions, CBers and AEs, humans and books,

Spots are now closed! 

Any new CBer who attempts to claim a spot at Camp Juniper will, unfortunately be unable to attend camp, although they are welcome to read along as the ski lodge progresses. We are only human after all, and we cannot accept more than 13 CBer campers. However, to the CBers who have already signed up, you are welcome to sign any AE companion up until Nevember 13th.

Thank you for submitting your sheets, Sammy, Masquerade, Zach, Nightfall, Ari, Braoin, Sterling, Hot Coco, NerdFace, Luna, AutumnArtist, Heroes, Icarus, Kitty Cat, Inari, Summer, and Freak. NerdFace, please decide if you are going to bring an AE, and HeroesOfOlympus, please post Pine and Felix's sheets by Friday, November 13th. You may revise your form or that of your AE until Tuesday, December 1st. 

~Liberté and Basil 

submitted by CBer Spots CLOSED!
(November 4, 2020 - 10:36 am)
submitted by Got it! -Heroes
(November 4, 2020 - 11:26 am)

Aspen! Come here! I'm bringing you to a ski lodge!

Wait, isn't that the thing where there is a murderer? Am I going to die?

No, you come back to life in the end.

Oh, okay! Sick. I'm coming. 

^Hey! No fair. I'm way cooler than Aspen.^ 

Dallas, shhh. Aspen, here is the form. 

Ahh I'm so excited!

Name: Aspen

 

CBer, AE, CAPTCHA, or CAPTCHAE? (Note: CAPTCHAs, and CAPTCHAEs are not allowed): AE :)

 

Age: #AEsAreAgeless, but I refuse to believe that, so I'm 15. 

 

Gender: Female. 

 

Companion(s) (up to 2 companions per person) (please fill out a sheet for them as well) (AEs only): I'm coming with my CBer, duh. 

 

Appearance: dark skin, hazel eyes, blonde hair tied into a low bun, tall (5’ 10”), thin, wears contact lenses. normally wears some kind of mismatching bold outfit because i don’t care. I'm currently wearing a bright yellow asymmetrical top that has leopard print on the longer sleeve, black bootcut fabric pants, and hot pink heels.  

 

Personality in five words. (Any more or less and you will no longer have the privilege to eat popcorn): hmm, this is hard. let's see... bold, friendly, really extroverted, never afraid, and ARGH. One more. Come on. Let's go with... happy-go-lucky. Why not?

 

Skills: I am really good with outdoorsy camp stuff like pitching a tent, making knots, etc. I can swim really fast and run fast, too. 

 

Quirks: if my hair is down, i twirl it in circles. Oh, and I'm super impatient.

 

Brains or Brawn?: Brawn. I'm not very smart. 

 

Envy or Empathy?: Empathy. I like caring about others.

 

Reverie or Realism?: Reverie. I like daydreams and am often in one. Sometimes, Nerd has to snap me out of one. It's not pleasent. 

 

Luggage, in order from most to least important: Nerd packed for me, so I have a black duffle filled with everything I would ever need. (between you and me, she's an overpacker.)

 

Choose a number: um. 77!

 

Choose a color: sun red! aspen, the sun isn't red. oh. how about grass red! no, that's not red either. blood red? now that's just scary, but yes. okay. blood red it is. 

 

Other: lalalalala. i'm vegan!

submitted by NerdFace and Aspen, age infinity, where the aliens live
(November 4, 2020 - 11:43 am)

Thank you for submitting your sheet, Aspen. We're excited to meet you at Camp Juniper!

submitted by Liberté and Basil, Camp Juniper
(November 4, 2020 - 4:04 pm)